A strange man
The following story was posted without a title on an internet platform as a “scary story” and has become one of my favorite pieces of short prose (I wouldn’t say it classifies as a short story) both in terms of its style and – especially so – in terms of its effect on the reader. But read for yourself.
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I live in Osaka, Japan and often use the subway to go to work in the morning. One day, when I was waiting for the train, I noticed a homeless man standing in a corner of the subway station, muttering to himself as people passed by. He was holding out a cup and seemed to be begging for spare change.
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… as you are about to enter the imaginarium, a polite guide droid approaches you and begins to greet you in an artificial, yet strangely soothing computerized voice: + Dear valued guest, + please accept our warmest welcome to the overground realm of Promethea512, and the underground realm of Persephone512 respectively. + A short comment on how to navigate these pages: + Dreams of the Lightbringer - The page you are currently on. Posts will include non-fictional writing and comments or discussions related to shared news articles, artwork etc. whichever content is deemed noteworthy by the curator. But see for yourself. + Dreams of the Sentinel - Companion page; accessible via the underground pathway, see sidebar to the right. Will include art, poems, writing and other fictional musings of the curator's own creation. + About the dreamers - A short explanation on "Promethea512" and "Persephone512", to be found in the realm of Persephone512, since both are conceptual, fictional characters. + If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I will remain close by.
Introducing: the dreams of Promethea512 and Persephone512
+ We hope you enjoy your stay.
+ I will be your guide droid for the day.
… you enter the imaginarium in curious wonder. The droid follows you with a whirring sound; keeping his assigned distance, yet not ever falling far behind. …
